Title

Authors

Abstract / Resumen / Resumo

Carbon markets are part of global initiatives to mitigate climate change by trading carbon in international markets. This is intended to allow firms and countries from the developed world to reduce their emissions through monetary incentives that fund carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction projects in the developing world. Mexico has been an experimental ground for carbon projects ranging from renewable energy initiatives like wind farms to forest projects that aim for afforestation, CO2 sequestration and forest protection. However, little attention has been given to the gendered experiences of carbon projects in Oaxaca, Mexico. I examine the convergence of environment, gender, and development as Oaxacan and international agencies introduced two distinct carbon projects. Using a Feminist Political Ecology approach—to study the effects of carbon projects in Mexico considering complex and gendered land arrangements, this analysis underscores differential access to land and resources within carbon market schemes amongst residents but especially between women and men. It explores the ways ‘gender’ is incorporated in carbon market practices designed to accomplish sustainable development goals. Even though carbon markets present alternative economic opportunities for participating communities, they are failing to acknowledge women’s social roles in the maintenance and reproduction of their communities, and in development work, and so continue to intensify gender inequalities by increasing workloads for women while leaving them at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing education, resources, property, paid jobs, and sustainable livelihood strategies.

Recommended Citation

Gay-Antaki, Miriam
(2016)
"“Now We Have Equality”: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis of Carbon Markets in Oaxaca, Mexico,"
Journal of Latin American Geography
15(3): 49-66.
Available at:
http://muse.jhu.edu/article/639099